Hawaii Marines arrive in Australia for 6-month deployment

CANBERRA, Australia >> The first detachment of 200 U.S. Marines has arrived in northern Australia, where a permanent joint training hub is taking shape as part of a U.S. shift of military strength in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Marines, who are on a six-month deployment, are from Fox Company of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment from Hawaii.

In November, the United States and Australia announced plans to send more U.S. military aircraft to Australia and to rotate up to 2,500 Marines through the northern city of Darwin to better protect American interests across Asia.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement that the first 200 Marines had arrived in Darwin late Tuesday. She said the initial six-month rotation of Fox Company will not include heavy equipment, vehicles or aircraft. Air and sea movements in support of this rotation will be minimal, she said.

"There are no U.S. military bases in Australia, and this will not change," she said.

Defense Minister Stephen Smith told the Marines today at an Australian army barracks outside Darwin where they will be based that their arrival was a historic day in the 61-year-old alliance between Australia and the United States. He rejected analysis that the closer military ties between Australia and the United States, Australia's most important security ally, are a response to the growing military assertiveness of China, Australia's most important trading partner.

"We don't see China or India as a threat," he said. "There is nothing inconsistent with our relationship with China and our long-standing, successful alliance with the United States."

U.S. Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich told the welcoming ceremony that the Asia-Pacific region was the "most dynamic area in the world."

"This is the fastest growing economic area and also the one that is enduring the greatest demographic change and we want to make sure that it continues to be a peaceful, prosperous and stable area," he said.

"The way that we accomplish that is by ensuring that trade routes are open and that we're prepared for any issue that could come up," he added.

Lt. Col. Curtis Hill, a spokes­man for Marine Forces Pacific at Camp Smith, told the Star-Advertiser last week that the Hawaii Marines are as part of what's being called the Southeast Asia Rotational Force.

They are expected to do some individual training, including rifle range practice. "Then they are actually going to deploy further," Hill said. "They are going to go out and do some exercises and theater security cooperation-type engagement."

The Marines will return to Darwin in July and conduct bilateral training with the Australian Defense Force, Hill said.